Summer 2008

Message from the Director

Robin M. Maher

The Project is delighted to announce that it has now partnered with the ACTL Access to Justice Committee to place several death penalty cases with its excellent Fellows.

Systemic Litigation Work

With funding from the ABA Section of Litigation, the Project has launched a new initiative to address long standing systemic problems affecting the quality and availability of counsel for capital trial defendants and death row prisoners seeking post-conviction relief.

New Mitigation Guidelines

The Spring 2008 issue of the Hofstra Law Review focuses on the importance of developing mitigation evidence in a capital case and the unique role and skills of mitigation specialists, who are essential members of every capital defense team.

Recent Volunteer Law Firm Successes

On April 17th, 2008, years of hard work by attorneys from Blank Rome LLP and Sutherland law firms resulted in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas vacating Wilfredo Ramos’ death sentence and re-sentencing him to life in prison without parole.

Law Firm Spotlight: Morrison & Foerster LLP

Morrison & Foerster LLP has been a friend to the Project and to the men and women on death row for many years. But in the past few months we have called on him and his firm to help with two tough cases that are deserving of special recognition.

Featured Case

In Maricopa County, Arizona, a man on death row is in need of volunteer counsel for his state post-conviction proceedings. Since the Arizona Supreme Court issued its mandate in 2006, the client has been unrepresented by counsel.

Jurisdiction in Need: Mississippi

Although Mississippi does have an office of post-conviction counsel, the reality of a small staff and inadequate funding means that attorneys in the office are overwhelmed trying to represent the many men and women on death row who need counsel.